This week I listened to a talk by Harvard Professor Harvey Mansfield. You can watch it here or listen to the podcast. One thing that came up which I had never considered before is how important it is that the Church (and the Temple and the Mosque) be separated from the state to have an effective government.
Machiavelli, like no political philosopher before him, squarely faced the problem of leading a government in a culture with a monotheistic religion. The Greek democracy and the Roman republic were not subject to absolute gods. Both fell to tyranny, but not to priests with power.
Monotheistic religions, especially at their extremes, see the entire universe as subject to their One God. Whether they are right or wrong in theology, we know what happens when priests control politics: Cruelty.
Eventually the heretics will be defined by prophets, condemned by priests and killed by mobs.
The brilliant, brave leaders who founded America knew this well. They wanted religion in the populace, but not in politics.
A priest, a Rabbi and an Imam can walk into a bar anytime they want to. But I never want them in charge of government.
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I re-read The Prince every four years in a Presidential election year to remind myself how politics works.
I have written about Machiavelli on Leadership, about re-reading The Prince under Trump, and comparing Trump and President Obama using The Prince.
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